Wednesday, June 20, 2012

LONDON 19th June 2012 –The International Green Awards™, a leading platform for sustainability intelligence, leadership and innovation, has now launched for the 7th year.

This year, the awards are free to enter and include a free sustainability review for all participants. This year also sees the organisation of several best practice sustainability summits in key international cities with a purpose of knowledge sharing.The awards are being judged by a global panel of influential and respected experts, advocates and spokespeople in international sustainability including the former Costa Rican President José María Figueres; former Executive Secretary to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC), Yvo de Boer and Andrew Steer, incoming President at the World Resources Institute (WRI).

Sustainability is a dynamic subject and intrinsically linked with the financial bottom line of any business. Current challenges and business risks transcend beyond climate change and involve issues closer to business operations, such as resource sourcing and scarcity.It is now time for organisations to evaluate and understand their two way interaction with the environment and build resilient businesses. Some people call this ‘future proofing’ – we call this smarter business.

In its 7th year, the awards are looking to recognise organisations that have exhibited leadership and innovation in their sustainability approach.We are looking to recognise those organisations that have embedded sustainability into their DNA, where all aspects of the agenda are addressed and assessed against each other.

Organisations can enter 6 categories this year based on size and status, each of which will be evaluated against 8 disciplines which should be integral to a well rounded sustainability strategy. These include energy, water, waste, resources, carbon, transport, supply chain and social. Participation is free and each entry will be given feedback on current strengths and future areas of opportunity to enhance their future sustainability performance.

Dermot O’Gorman, Chief Executive Officer, WWF Australia commented, “Receiving an International Green Award™ is a prestigious accolade for any environmentalist or environmentally focused organisation, acknowledging key achievements and dedication in the area of sustainable innovation.”

The awards are also organising best practice conferences in different cities, to encourage knowledge sharing amongst global and regional organisations. These conferences or ‘city summits’ will bring together a pool of practical best practice examples, through our past winners and industry experts, and engage with regional audiences on their sustainability strategies. The first summit took place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on the 5th June, to coincide with World Environment Day. Other confirmed summits for the year will be in Mumbai (India) , Townsville and Sydney (Australia).

According to one of this year’s distinguished judges former Costa Rican President José-Maria Figueres “The challenges we face with climate change are not challenges at all, but incredible opportunities. In fact, I believe it to be the greatest wealth creating opportunity of our generation as we move to a post-carbon economy."

To enter before the deadline of the 23rd of August and for more details, visit www.greenawards.com. To register for any of our summits please visit www.greenawards.com/city-summits .

International Green Awards™

The International Green Awards™ is the leading platform for sustainability intelligence, leadership and innovation.Established in 2006, the awards have a strong global presence, where over 108 countries participated in the 2011 process. Over the past years, the awards have promoted knowledge sharing and innovation towards sustainable outcomes and solutions.